3308.0 HF-USB0103Z - AFF7KS NCS for the Air Force North Central Area Region MARS NCM4 net (still being hammered nightly by the probable USS Bush strike group)0218Z - AFN7NC announces that the Air Force North Central Area MARS NCM1 net is being called on TVA

"The on-load is new for everyone on this crew," said Gunnery Sgt. Steven R. Jones, USS Essex senior combat cargo assistant. "We finished ahead of schedule, which is rare with a new crew. For a ship this size, it usually takes three days to load, but this time it took half the time."

"It went smooth, actually pretty outstanding – one of the quickest on-loads the ship has done," he said.

"Combat cargo Marines come from multiple military occupation specialties and have only about 10 days of training," Jones said. "We have a good team. Everyone did what they were supposed to do."

While seasoned veterans comprise much of the MEU, the patrol will provide many Marines with their first taste of life aboard a Navy ship.

"I'm looking forward to the training exercises and seeing some of the different countries we're going to be visiting," said Lance Cpl. Dustin S. Delosh, 31st CLB.

The patrol will feature a series of maritime training exercises designed to build relationships and enhance operational readiness between U.S. and Western Pacific partner nations. Essex Sailors, along with the 31st MEU, will train with forces throughout the region.

Essex, commanded by Capt. David Fluker, is part of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is underway in the Western Pacific region.

Cmdr. Jeff Bernard, USS La Jolla commanding officer, said the crew is extremely excited and well prepared to get underway.

"The crew has worked very hard, and we have conducted extensive training during the deployment preparation phase and will continue to hone the lessons learned from that training as we transit to our operational areas," said Bernard. "There is a great deal of satisfaction within the crew to be finally finished preparing for this deployment and to begin operations at sea."

The deployment will be the first for the majority of the crew, where according to Bernard, they will conduct many training exercises and qualifications as well as being available for any tasking which comes their way.

"This deployment will provide an optimal time for a great deal of submarine qualifications, watch station and other divisional qualifications to be completed," said Bernard. "Our goal is to maximize operational readiness in support of the needs of the operational commander and above all else, bring the submarine and crew back safely from a successful deployment."

USS La Jolla is named for La Jolla, California, and is the first warship named after this township.

La Jolla, commissioned Oct. 24, 1981, is the fourteenth ship of the Los Angeles-class of nuclear attack submarines, is 360-feet long and displaces 6,900 tons. Attack submarines are uniquely capable because of their stealth and endurance, which is increasingly important as the Navy works to provide stability and security around the world. The submarine can be armed with sophisticated Mark-48 ADCAP anti-submarine torpedoes and Tomahawk guided cruise missiles.

Friday, January 28, 2011

The first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant, the U.S. Navy's first stealth fighter, arrived at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 2:37 p.m. EST. The aircraft, piloted by David "Doc" Nelson, departed Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base at 11:31 a.m. EST and achieved successful air refuels at a maximum load of 19,800 pounds during the flight. At Patuxent River, the F-35C will conduct air-to-air refueling and performance testing. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin/Released)

NORFOLK (NNS) -- A notice of intent will be published in the Federal Register Jan. 28 announcing the Navy's intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will evaluate the potential environmental effects associated with basing the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft on the West Coast of the United States.

Under this proposal, a total of seven active-duty F/A-18C Hornet squadrons and one fleet replacement squadron (FRS), a total of 100 aircraft, will progressively transition from the F/A-18C Hornet aircraft to the more advanced F-35C JSF beginning in 2015.

This transition will occur as a one-for-one replacement.

During the initial planning process to identify suitable home base locations for the F-35C, the Navy evaluated 134 Department of Defense installations against the operational and facilities requirements necessary to support the homebasing of the F-35C. The preliminary screening process identified two potentially suitable West Coast home basing locations: Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, located in Kings County, Calif., and Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, located in Imperial County, Calif.

In order to maximize efficiency of support facilities, simulation devices and on-site support personnel, the Navy intends to base all its West Coast F-35C aircraft at one location. Accordingly, initial alternatives to be considered in the U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast EIS are basing seven F-35C fleet squadrons and one F-35C FRS at either NAS Lemoore or NAF El Centro. Additionally, a no action alternative will be evaluated at each of the potential homebase locations to provide a baseline for comparison and analysis of the environmental consequences associated with the basing alternatives.

The Navy is initiating the scoping process to identify community concerns and local issues that will be addressed in the EIS. As part of the EIS public participation process, the Navy plans to hold scoping meetings in February 2011 to obtain public input on the scope of the EIS.

Scoping meetings will be held on the following days, at the following locations:

Each meeting will occur from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The meetings will be conducted using an open house format with informational displays and materials available for public review. The primary purpose of scoping is to provide the public an opportunity to submit comments on environmental concerns that should be addressed in the U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast homebasing EIS. Although many details regarding this basing effort can only be determined after thorough analysis, Navy staff will be present at these open houses to answer general questions on the homebasing action and the EIS process.

Comments may be submitted electronically at the project website, www.navyf35cwestcoasteis.com, or through the mail by sending them to:

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 64th Aggressor Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., takes off from the flightline during the first day of Red Flag 11-2 Jan. 24, 2011, at Nellis AFB. Red Flag is a combined exercise that provides a realistic, combat-training environment to the U.S. and its allies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin Wilson)

by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Wilson, Red Flag 11-2 Public Affairs

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) -- The first pilots flew into a simulated combat environment designed to give them the skills needed to survive in war during Red Flag 11-2 here Jan. 24.

"The mission of every Red Flag is to expose our combat aircrew to realistic training," said Col. S. Clinton Hinote, the Red Flag 11-2 Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "The idea is that if you give them very realistic combat-like training early in their careers, then they will make the mistakes that most people are going to make in the training environment."

Making mistakes in a training environment helps the aircrew learn valuable lessons for real combat.

A study conducted during the Vietnam War showed that if a pilot survived his first 10 combat missions, his chances of survival through the conflict went up exponentially, Colonel Hinote said.

Helping the aircrew gain combat experience is a professional aggressor force stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Units assigned to the 57th Adversary Tactics Group act as the "bad guys" during Red Flag exercises, trying to stop the deployed forces from accomplishing their mission.

"Today, we are going to try to bomb some airfields and they are trying to stop us," Colonel Hinote said. "Some of our folks are going to get shot down and we're going to shoot down some of their folks, and we are going to come back and learn from the experience and get better at it."

Though the combat missions are the main reason for Red Flag exercises the event has more than one goal.

"Some of the main goals of Red Flag 11-2 are large force integration, strengthening coalition partnerships and bettering coalition interoperability," said Lt. Col. Dewey Smith, the Red Flag 11-2 team chief.

None of the goals of the exercise can be met, however, if units from across the continental U.S., Europe and the Southwest Asia cannot pull together as a team.

"The biggest challenge we will have is creating a coherent fighting team in the space of just a few days" Colonel Hinote said. "Otherwise the enemy aircraft and the enemy surface to air missiles are going to hand us our lunch."

Once the team is fighting together, they have full intentions to take advantage of the opportunity Red Flag provides.

"Red Flag is a gift that has been given to us," Colonel Hinote said. "It is important to be thankful for that because other folks don't get it and we have to take full advantage of this."

(Editor's note: Aircraft and members of the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, are deployed to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in support of Red Flag 11-2.)

Thursday, January 27, 2011

CHUK SAMET, Thailand (NNS) -- Three Military Sealift Command ships are offloading hundreds of pieces of U.S. Marine Corps equipment, containerized supplies and personnel in support of exercises Freedom Banner and Cobra Gold at Chuk Samet, Thailand, through Jan. 28.

U.S. Marines will deploy cargo offloaded from Lummus to the field for their participation in the 30th annual Cobra Gold exercise, which includes more than 11,000 personnel from Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia and the United States. Participants will conduct computer-simulated and field exercises and take part in civic assistance projects throughout Thailand Feb. 7-18.

Freedom Banner provides Lummus and Martin, both assigned to Pacific-based Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Three, with valuable training. The ships' mission is to quickly deliver military cargo and supplies in response to a military contingency or to provide humanitarian assistance. Lummus and Martin are crewed by about 30 mariners apiece working for private companies under contract to MSC.

"Freedom Banner not only offers participants valuable, hands-on training, but has the added benefit of supporting a real-world, vital exercise," said Capt. Herman Awai, MPS Squadron Three commander.

Both ships arrived off Thailand's coast Jan. 19. The first phase of Freedom Banner, Jan. 20-22, included the offload and assembly of the Improved Navy Lighterage System. INLS includes various causeway sections and tugs used to offload combat equipment and supplies where conventional port facilities may be damaged, inadequate or non-existent.

The INLS assembles at sea and connects together like building blocks to form ferries, causeway piers or a large staging area for cargo called a Roll-on/Roll-off Discharge Facility, or RRDF.

Sailors from Williamsburg, Va.-based Navy Cargo Handling Battalion One went to work Jan. 20, aboard Lummus, offloading warping tugs, utility boats, and powered and non-powered modules that make up the INLS. Working around the clock, all cargo was offloaded Jan. 21.

Nine interconnected modules forming the RRDF were offloaded from Martin Jan. 21-22. Fully assembled, the RRDF is equal in size to two basketball courts. NCHB-1 Sailors operated Martin's heavy-lift cranes and placed each 80-ton module safely into the water.

Sailors from San Diego-based Assault Craft Unit One operated warping tugs to carefully position each module. Next, Sailors from San Diego-based Amphibious Construction Battalion One connected the modules until the platform was fully assembled. Tug boats pushed the RRDF behind Lummus' stern and the ship's ramp was lowered onto the RRDF, Jan. 22. Three inter-connected barges, one of which is powered by a water jet propulsion system, then attached itself to the RRDF.

Marines from Okinawa-based Combat Logistics Group Three then began driving wheeled and tracked vehicles onto the causeway sections Jan. 23. In total, 176 pieces of cargo, including Humvees, trucks, amphibious assault vehicles, will be delivered ashore by Jan. 28. Martin will backload the RRDF Jan. 29-31, and then return to Guam. Lummus will remain off the coast and will backload equipment following the completion of Cobra Gold.

Also supporting Cobra Gold is MSC chartered high speed vessel HSV Westpac Express, which delivered 246 Marines from the Okinawa-based 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force to Chuk Samet Jan. 22. The ship will return to Okinawa in early February.

MSC reservists also played an important role. Members from Expeditionary Port Unit 113 from Fort Worth, Texas, and EPU 102 from New York City deployed in support of the exercises. Reservists crewed a mobile sealift operations command center, a portable communications facility designed to operate and manage port operations, even if port infrastructure is damaged or destroyed. EPU's can quickly deploy to a contingency operation and manage the arrival and departures of cargo ships in port.

MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.

The deployment will feature several bilateral maritime training exercises designed to build relationships and enhance operational readiness between U.S. and Asian-Pacific partner nations throughout the region.

"Because Essex is permanently forward-deployed, she has the unique ability to continuously engage and exercise with partners and allies in the Western Pacific, as well as forge new relationships with nations with whom we have operated less frequently," said Capt. David Fluker, Essex' commanding officer. "She remains always ready to respond to crises in the region, whether it be by providing assisting during relief efforts following a natural disaster, offering routine humanitarian assistance or by reassuring our friends in support of treaties or national objectives."

During the deployment, Essex and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit will participate in exercise Cobra Gold 2011, an annual U.S.-Thailand co-sponsored joint coalition exercise designed to ensure regional peace and stability.

The deployment will also serve as a first for many of Essex' newest Sailors, many of which will enjoy their first taste of life underway.

"I'm really looking forward to a couple of things, like the opportunity to learn my job and having a chance to visit all of the ports that I hear we're going to," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Rachel Walker, of Miami. "It sounds really exciting."

Fluker assumed command of Essex Jan. 20 following an 18-month as the ship's executive officer.

"I look forward to continuing to work with this remarkable team, he said. "I am constantly inspired with the dedication and unmatched flexibility that the Sailors and Marines of Essex demonstrate."

Essex is part of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is underway in the Western Pacific region.

Local Navy pilots have been tapped to perform a four-plane flyover at Super Bowl XLV in Dallas on Feb. 6, the Navy announced.

The aircraft and air crews are from Strike Fighter Squadrons 83 (the Rampagers), 131 (the Wildcats), 103 (the Jolly Rogers) and 143 (the Pukin’ Dogs). All are part of Carrier Air Wing Seven and based at Oceana Naval Air Station. The flight will be led by Cmdr. Ben Hewlett, who heads the Wildcats.

WASHINGTON - The jury is still out on China's apparent fifth-generation J-20 stealth aircraft, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said today.

"The J-20 stories, frankly, that I've seen over the past couple weeks ... have been a little over the top," Morrell said during a Pentagon news conference. He noted that reports of "successful testing" ignore the unknowns of the Chinese aircraft.

"What we know is that a plane that looks different than any other they produced, that they claim to be their J-20, had a short test flight when we were in Beijing," the press secretary said. "But we don't know, frankly, much about the capabilities of that plane."

The test flight occurred during Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' visit to China this month.

The J-20's engine capabilities and degree of stealth capability are among the unknowns, Morrell said, adding that the U.S. current and developing air fleet is more than equal to any possible Chinese challenge.

"That's why we have pursued not just the F-22, which we have in more than enough numbers to deal with any scenario involving China, but also the F-35, to the tune of nearly 2,500 planes," Morrell said.

Morrell said "given what little we know," of the Chinese aircraft, "I would just urge everybody to ... slow down a little bit on our characterizations of the J-20 at this point."

China's capabilities and North Korea's recent provocations make the question of U.S. force presence in the region an important one, Morrell said.

"In light of the threat that we see emanating ... from Pyongyang," he said, "we have said that we will do what is necessary to protect ourselves here as well as our forward-deployed forces [and] our allies, who we have security commitments to."

The United States has 28,500 troops on the Korean peninsula and more than 50,000 more in Japan, Morrell noted.

"And over the long-term lay-down of our forces in the Pacific, we are looking at ways to even bolster that, not necessarily in Korea and Japan, but along the Pacific Rim, particularly in Southeast Asia," he said.

Australia and Singapore may offer U.S. access to certain military facilities in the region, he said, adding, "Guam, obviously, would be the best example of us changing our lay-down and our footprint in the region, enhancing [our presence] in Southeast Asia."

Morrell said Gates' recent comments on the North Korean threat shouldn't be construed as applying immediately.

"I think what he said is they're becoming a direct threat to the United States," the spokesman said. "By that, he doesn't mean at this very moment. But given their pursuit of both the nuclear weapons and their ballistic-missile capabilities, he sees them being a direct threat not within five years, but sooner than that."

Morrell said that's why defense officials are working with China, Japan and others to impress on North Korea that "they've got to cut out this provocative behavior, the destabilizing behavior, and they've got to seriously reevaluate their pursuit of nuclear weapons and delivery vehicles."

"These are three separate, fast-moving situations that the secretary and others here in this department, and ... obviously others throughout the government, are monitoring closely as they evolve," Morrell told Pentagon reporters in a briefing here.

The U.S. military relationships with the three countries vary greatly, Morrell said.

"We have no military-to-military relationship with Tunisia, we have a long-standing military-to-military relationship with Egypt, and we have an evolving military-to-military relationship with Lebanon," he said.

Since Syria pulled its forces out of Lebanon in 2006, Morrell said, the United States has pursued a closer military relationship, providing assistance "upwards of $600 million" to Lebanon in that time.

"In the case of Lebanon, we're monitoring the situation as the constitutional process plays out. We will need to see what the final makeup of the Lebanese government looks like before we make any decisions regarding our relationship, including military assistance," he said.

A Hezbollah-controlled government would "obviously have an effect" on the U.S-Lebanon relationship, Morrell said.

"I think [the State Department] should take it from here, in terms of the ultimate impact that may or may not have on military-to-military relationship and financial assistance," he added.

The White House has addressed the protest situation in Egypt at length, Morrell said. A White House statement on Egypt released yesterday urges all parties to refrain from violence.

"We support the universal rights of the Egyptian people, including the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly," the statement reads, in part. "The Egyptian government has an important opportunity to be responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people, and pursue political, economic and social reforms that can improve their lives and help Egypt prosper. The United States is committed to working with Egypt and the Egyptian people to advance these goals."

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

USS LEYTE GULF, At Sea (NNS) -- The 14 Sailors that comprise Weapons department's CA division aboard USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) have been steadily hearing "the call of the ocean" as they steam through U.S. 6th Fleet's area of operation, Jan. 25.

The sonar technicians are helping to protect the ship by listening to changes in the frequency in water, allowing for quicker response to potential threats.

Sonar technicians are trained to detect, classify, and localize incoming torpedoes. The technicians are also responsible for deploying the AN/SLQ-25A (NIXIE) torpedo countermeasure, a vital component to the ship's torpedo defense system.

The NIXIEs "soft kill" technology is able to confuse a torpedo and draw fire away from the ship through the use of a towed decoy device and shipboard signal generator. The combination can attract the passive sonar of an incoming torpedo by mimicking ship noise, such as a propeller or engine, which is more attractive to the torpedo's sensors than the ship.

"We train to rapidly deploy NIXIE, recognize incoming torpedoes and know what type of weapon the enemy is deploying against us," said Sonar Technician 3rd Class (Surface) Andrew D. Johnson. "It's vital in order to allow the ship to make the necessary evasive maneuvers."

Leyte Gulf's NIXIE "Quickdraw" was a recent training scenario designed to test the response time for getting NIXIE into the water when faced with aggression.

"It's important to keep personnel alert," said Ens. Maelina T. Sakaio, anti-submarine warfare officer. "You have to continually train in order to develop and improve."

In order to deploy NIXIE, the division must first receive the order from the commanding officer. Once permission is given, NIXIE is lowered through an opening in the aft of the ship by a winch to a specified depth. It's a mixture of speed and precision that sonar technicians must work to achieve in order to successfully deploy the torpedo countermeasure.

"We conduct training on the equipment in order to better understand how the system works and also maintain proficient, safe winch operation," said Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class (SW) Robert W. Kibler, CA division leading petty officer. "The best training always remains the actual deployment of the NIXIE."

As Leyte Gulf continues with its scheduled deployment into the 6th and 5th Fleet areas of operation, the division continues to work toward mission success.

"Our division knows how real the threat is, and we do our best to train to it, and also educate the crew to the dangers as well," said Chief Sonar Technician (Surface) (SW/IUSS) Anthony Wagner, CA division leading chief petty officer.

Anti-submarine warfare has been a focus of Leyte Gulf long before deployment, and as they move closer to 5th Fleet, the sonar technicians will call upon their numerous training events to guide them.

As Leyte Gulf continues its deployment, they understand the importance of what they are listening to.

"We are the ship's first line of defense when it comes to anti-torpedo defense," said Wagner.

Leyte Gulf is deployed as part of Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG) in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.

The crew of Mitscher, more than 250 Sailors, is participating in a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) to prepare for an upcoming deployment with the strike group.

"We're in our advanced stages of training," said Command Master Chief (SW) William Mullinax, USS Mitscher Command Master Chief. "This is to flex the crew and the ship to ensure we're ready to go in harm's way if need be."

"Mitscher's not only the jack-of-all-trades, but she's the master of them as well," said Lt. Cmdr. Jason Wilson, combat systems officer. "Name a mission and we'll be there to execute it safely and professionally."

During their first 48 hours underway, the crew conducted a VBSS exercise and a force protection exercise designed to simulate an attack on the ship by small craft.

"It's training that has added value to Sailors," said Mullinax.

"Over the next month we'll fine-tune the skills we need to fine-tune a little more, tighten up those last few things we need tightened up, and we'll be ready to roll," Wilson said.

"The crew is ready for the COMPTUEX and JTFEX, and I think they'll meet every situation pressed upon them to the best of their ability," Mullinax said. "There are probably going to be things which will stump us a bit, but we have the right people in place, the right leadership and the right Sailors."

USS Mitscher is scheduled to deploy with the strike group in the spring.

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Three Commander, U.S. Second Fleet ships successfully completed a tracking exercise Jan. 22, off the coast of Virginia using the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system during Atlantic Trident 2011.

Monterey, an Aegis cruiser, and Ramage, an Aegis destroyer, took turns tracking and simulating engagement of the target while Gonzalez, a guided-missile destroyer, participated by tracking the target.

All three ships were able to successfully track the target, with Monterey and Ramage providing simulated target solutions that would have resulted in a successful intercept. No missiles were fired from the ships as it was a tracking exercise.

Ballistic missile defense is a Navy core mission. The Missile Defense Agency and the Navy have modified 21 Aegis BMD combatants (5 cruisers and 16 destroyers). Of the 21 ships, 16 are assigned to the Pacific Fleet and five to the Atlantic Fleet. The Secretary of Defense announced in 2010 that six more destroyers would be upgraded to the Aegis BMD capability.

Atlantic Trident 2011 is the first live Fleet Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) exercise to take place in the Atlantic.

Officials from the 46th Test Wing launched the fourth generation fighter for the first time with a new and improved radar system, the APG-82(V)1.

The APG-82 uses active electronically scanned array radar technology composed of numerous small solid-state transmit and receive modules. The standard radar, APG-70, is a mechanically scanned array housed in the nose of the aircraft. Although the current F-15E radar has undergone numerous updates and upgrades, it is still the same system the aircraft had on its maiden flight more than 24 years ago.

"We've been able to get more out of it, but at this point it's pretty much maxed out," said 1st Lt. Nathaniel Meier, a radar modernization project manager with the Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force.

The new radar lacks the motors and hydraulics of the old system and includes a new avionics and cooling system.

Aircraft radar continuously sends out and receives energy to identify objects or targets around it.

Due to its unique capabilities, the F-15E radar operates as air-to-air and air-to-ground radar, officials said.

"One AESA-equipped F-15E can detect and track multiple targets simultaneously and gain the same battle picture and prosecute the same number of attacks that currently require several mechanically scanned radar assets," said Brad Jones, the Boeing director for U.S. Air Force development programs. "Adding AESA multiplies the effectiveness of the F-15E."

The advantage AESA radar has over an MSA is its near-instantaneous ability to redirect its focus from air-to-air to air-to-ground mode, officials said.

By no longer having to wait for the array to physically move to a new area of interest, the aircrew receives better situational awareness in less time, Lieutenant Meier said.

The four-year-old project borrowed from existing technology to create the new system. The array system was taken from F-15C Eagle models and the avionics were borrowed from F-18 Hornets.

The reason for the change was to improve the entire aircraft's reliability, availability and maintainability, Lieutenant Meier said.

The new radar works as a plug-in-play system with newer, easily replaceable parts, the lieutenant said.

It's expected to have approximately a 20-fold improvement in aircraft reliability, he said.

The aircraft also stays mission-ready.

An average failure for the radar component was previously measured in tens of hours and can now be measured in hundreds of hours, Lieutenant Meier said.

The APG-82 has fewer moving parts and the new equipment lasts longer, which cuts down on the time needed for repairs, he said.

The modification of the aircraft, which began in June 2010, was a concerted effort by members of Boeing, the 46th Maintenance Group, Raytheon, the 46th Technical Support Squadron and the OFP CTF.

"Without their determination, (F-15E) RMP would not have been anywhere close to making its first flight," Lieutenant Meier said.

The developmental test flight was considered successful, and the aircrew members said they liked what they saw during the flight.

"There are huge performance increases," said Maj. Raja Chari, a 40th Flight Test Squadron member and the pilot for the first flight. "We're getting the benefit of two decades worth of technology. From what we saw in this flight, we're heading in the right direction."

The developmental test process is about building incrementally into testing more complicated functions of the equipment and finding any flaws and problems based on usage in specific test profiles.

"Really, the engineers put in the time and hard work," Major Chari said. "We have the easy part of seeing if it will do what they thought it would. It was interesting to see the engineers reacting and diagnosing the issues right away, based on our feedback."

Capt. Chris Dupin, a 40th FTS member and the weapons system officer for the first flight, said he noticed improved capabilities during the initial flight.

He said the radar was able to detect F-16s much farther away than ever before.

"The kill chain for anything is the ability to detect, identify, target and engage a threat," Captain Dupin said. "If we can detect an air target earlier or farther away, that leaves more time and space to complete the rest of the kill chain. Completing the kill chain faster and earlier means we're better able to gain or maintain airspace superiority."

The biggest "test" facing the project involves combining avionics and array systems from other aircraft and incorporating them into a totally different one.

"By using (government and commercial) off-the-shelf equipment, the Air Force is able to save a large amount of the development costs, but the challenge is integrating these new systems and making them work as one," Lieutenant Meier said.

Developmental testing is scheduled to continue through 2012, but the OFP CTF, being a shared unit of the 46th Test Wing and 53rd Wing, is unique in that its members can perform developmental tests while incorporating early operational testing.

Officials have begun modifying a 53rd Wing F-15E with the new radar and they plan to begin some of the operational type of testing as early as March.

The next stage of testing for the radar will be conducted by Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center officials before being incorporated in all F-15Es beginning in approximately 2014.

4023.9 HF-USB0011Z - AAM5OH NCS for the Army Region 5 Ohio MARS AAA5RD/OH net: AAR5BL // chatter as to how AAM5OH does not like to work on KBH1406Z - AAM5RD NCS for the Army Region 5 Illinois MARS AAA5RD/IL net: AAV5SV / AAM5AIL

Our good friend of this blog Eddy Waters down under in South Australia passes along the following information on the Pakistani Navy -- thanks Eddy.

Here is a list of calls made by several ships etc. of the Pakistan Navy. The frequency is 12876.00 kHz USB. The mode used is ALE or for the purists MIL-STD 188 141A. The universal time these calls were logged, was between 1030 UTC and 1200 UTC.

According to two reliable sources, the USS George H.W. Bush CSG has now moved south out of the Vacapes Oparea to to the Jax Opareas to continue their COMPTUEX training matrix. More than likely they got the wing carrier quals (CQ) for the wing completed and maybe some of the Phase 1 wing training which includes ADEX 1/2, CAS 1/2, and Strike Day 1, and some or all of their TSTA III and the FEP training matrix. We should be approaching port visits and then Phase 2 of their training soon.

Mike in central FLA reported the activity below yesterday that indicates that the CSG is indeed moving south into the Jax Opareas, a day or two earlier than was orignally expected.

More than likely the 4703 kHz Air Defense activity over the last few days that I have been reporting on my twitter feed (MilcomMP) is probably an OPFOR (Orange Force) net with Juliet Whiskey as the NCS that will now be working with, uh against the Bush CSG Blue forces.

Bataan's Weapons Department, partnered with personnel from Naval Weapons Station Earle, took on nearly 1,000 pallets of ordnance during the four-day evolution.

"As an amphibious ready group, it is essential to have our ammunition on board in case we are called upon for any mission," said Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Troy King, one of Weapons Department's roving supervisors.

Sailors used a number of techniques to maneuver the ammunition from the pier to the ship.

The goal aboard Bataan was to be expeditious without compromising safety. The event was meticulously planned for months and when it came time for execution, safety remained at the forefront.

Hazards of electromagnetic radiation to ordnance conditions were set throughout the ship. Every fork-lift driver had a spotter, and every elevator operator had a quality-assurance safety observer. Everyone involved in the on load was required to wear the proper personal protective equipment. The hangar bay was secured to nonessential personnel to keep the crew safe and to contribute to a more efficient ammunition on load.

"As always safety is a major part of any evolution we do," said King. "The priority is to bring all ammunition on board and send everyone home with all of their fingers and toes. We are counter productive to mission readiness if we damage equipment or injure personnel."

Multiple departments worked together to seamlessly accomplish the on load.

Machinist's mates worked the elevators, the fire controlmen helped with traffic control and rigging ammo and supply provided hot meals and extended the chow hours when necessary.

"Of course Weapons Department and our fire controlmen played a major role in the on load, but we couldn't have done it without the support of a lot of people," said King. "There are a lot of moving parts involved with preparing for and executing a major on load such as this one. I personally want to thank everyone that supported us and made it a successful and safe evolution."

The on load also gave Sailors the opportunity to receive some in-rate training that isn't available everyday.

"The fire controlmen received on the job training; the new Sailors now know how to properly secure hazardous ammunitions such as the closed in weapons system while transporting it and securing it for sea," said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Charlie Whorton, a flight deck communication rigger.

"We have a bunch of young Sailors. It's my first on load, and we learned a lot from the senior guys — our supervisors," said Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Derek Curtsinger, a magazine assistance supervisor.

Sailors involved with the load, sometimes worked 15 hour shifts, but the hard work paid off, and Bataan wrapped up the on load a day early.

"They worked extremely hard," said King. We had to force some of them to go to bed, or they would have worked through the night. As the command master chief would say, 'they are all rock stars!'"

According to a report in the Washington Post, Air Force field testers have concluded in a draft report that a new wide-area surveillance system for use with remotely piloted aircraft is "not operationally effective" and should not be fielded, but Air Force officials said Monday they expect the system will still be deployed by late winter in Afghanistan.

A Dec. 30 report by the Air Force's 53rd Wing Group at Eglin Air Force Base said that the new system, dubbed Gorgon Stare, had "significant limitations," including an inability to track people on the ground in real time, and a delay in sending real-time images to the ground.